AN INSIDER'S VIEW INTO THE 2017 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

The Sundance Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, January 19, 2017 for a ten day period of film premieres and celebrations. This year’s festival showcases 113 feature-length films, created by independent filmmakers from across the globe. As the United States’ largest independent film festival, filmmakers return to Park City year-after-year to share their creations for a chance at a big break and to further distribute their films.

Remember the quirky comedy Napoleon Dynamite? The film made its debut at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival alongside Garden State – the romantic drama with an unforgettable soundtrack. Or how could anyone forget about the ever-endearing Little Miss Sunshine, which premiered at the 2006 festival? The purchase of the Little Miss Sunshine’s distribution rights became one of the biggest deals made in Sundance Film Festival history. Other popular films that debuted at the film festival before hitting the box office include Reservoir Dogs (1992), American Psycho (2000), and 500 Days of Summer (2009).

Park City welcomed over 46,000 people last year for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, and expects to greet even more guests this year (wondering how to navigate town? Check out these tips). Just because you’re not here for the festival doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it! We’ll keep you updated with images of the Sundance scene in Park City for the next two weeks. Plus, some of this year’s films might be acquired by film distribution companies, and could soon debut in your local movie theater!